Tag Archives: The Velvet Underground

On September 6, 1978, Thomas Blanchard “Tom” Wilson Jr. died aged 47. He was producer best known for his work with Bob Dylan, The Mothers of Invention, The Fraternity of Man, Simon and Garfunkel, the Velvet Underground, Cecil Taylor, Sun Ra, Eddie Harris, Nico, Eric Burdon & the Animals, the Blues Project, the Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem and Soft Machine.

In March 1969, “MGM” label released the third, self-titled Velvet Underground album. It was recorded November – December 1968, at “T.T.G. Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Lou Reed, Doug Yule, Sterling Morrison and Maureen Tucker. In 2003, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 314 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

In February 1985, “Verve” label released “VU”, an outtakes compilation album by The Velvet Underground. It was recorded 1968 – 1969 in New York City, and was produced by John Cale, Sterling Morrison, Lou Reed and Maureen Tucker. The album is selection from the 1969 tracks and two previously unreleased John Cale-era songs—”Temptation Inside Your Heart” and “Stephanie Says”.

On November 15, 1970, “Atlantic” label released “Loaded”, the fourth Velvet Underground studio album. It was recorded April–August 1970, at “Atlantic Recording Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Geoff Haslam, Shel Kagan and The Velvet Underground. In 2012, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Loaded” at number 110 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of all Time”.

In November and December 1969, The Velvet Underground were playing in two San Francisco venues: the “Family Dog” and the “Matrix”. During the18 night performances, most of the gigs were recorded on a four-track recorder.

The recordings from those shows are used for “The Complete Matrix Tapes”, the four-disc box set containing 42 recordings, including 9 previously unreleased tracks.

On July 18, 1988, Christa Päffgen aka Nico died aged 49. German born singer-songwriter, lyricist, composer, musician, fashion model and actress Nico was promoted in the 60’s by Andy Warhol and had few roles in movies including Federico Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita” (1960) and Andy Warhol’s “Chelsea Girls” (1966), but she is best known by her vocals on the Velvet Underground’s album from 1967 “The Velvet Underground & Nico”.

On June 2, 2008, Ellas Otha Bates aka Bo Diddley, died aged 79. He was R&B and Chicago blues vocalist, guitarist, songwriter and music producer and he played important role in the transition from the blues to rock and roll. His original syncopated beat – three strokes /rest/ two strokes, became the core rhythm of rock ’n’ roll. His style influenced big number of music acts including The Animals, Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, Parliament Funkadelic, The Velvet Underground, The Who, The Yardbirds, Eric Clapton, and The Beatles.